Prayers for a best friend!!

I just got off the Skype line with my best friend Lisa. The fifteenth was her birthday and was probably the most difficult birthday that she will EVER endure...Lisa has been trying to have a baby for a long time, she has a little boy named Parker, but this second child has taken forever to conceive. About a month ago she found out that she was carrying not just one baby but two! This was such amazing news. 

Than the news quickly came that she could be miscarrying the babies. It has all happened so fast it seems and yet, it has taken the Dr. along time to know for sure what the outcome would be...and yes it is true, Lisa is no longer pregnant.

Yesterday I sent Lisa flowers! I called her best friend in FL. and could not get in touch with her, so I called a random florist in the area that she lives in!! I could not believe when I got her message this morning that they are the FIRST flowers that she has EVER received. I am so happy that I could be apart of a little sunshine in her day. Lisa and I have been friends since kindergarten we have been through alot of firsts together...so many to list. And now the unthinkable. 

This is another one of these times that you so badly want to be there! So badly want to live close by...and yet here I sit calling a florist over Skype. But I admit that my sister needs to cling to the Lord. Not to me, her husband or the child she currently has...but to the Lord. As I spoke with her this afternoon...I only had a few words of encouragement for her, and the words were these...God brings trials to bring Glory to himself. That is what it looks like for the believer. We don't know why and may never know why. But your life and the fact that he has CALLED YOU WORTHY of the trial is that the Lord knows that you can come through this trial as a faithful servant of our Lord! That is amazing to me. 

Please pray for her today if you get a chance. Thanks....

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Rough day...

Well, Today was a rough day. I could not get it together, and could not fight the tears. I actually have a lot of days like these. Not sure why really sometimes I think it is that part of me that longs for the "normal"/ "easy" life. Maybe it is because Aiden's abscess is back with a vengeance...or because I cannot seem to memorize the book of Philippians ( a team goal) But then I remember what life was like in the USA and quickly remember it is not that "easy" there either. It is however convenient!! Not having a car has become the thorn in my side. Everything is harder without one...everything!! I long for God to provide in this way, and desperately would like to drive myself to the grocery store. Or to not have to pay 25.00 to get a TAXI home from a late night meeting with Italians!! It all adds up, and what it is adding up to for me is imprisonment...I feel cut off at the knees with so many places to go and no one to take me there...not to mention personal opportunities that are lost, because I simply cannot take the transportation to one place or another. 

I often wonder what would a pastor do if suddenly he was sent to a new church and told, "oh yes, and that car of yours, you don't get to keep that, leave it here, and get around the city and minister to the 900,000 people you are trying to reach by using the BUS, oh and wait did we tell you about your pay cut!!!!" 

But now really, Natalie, remember you signed up for this!! And you are called to a life of less...every missionary is!! SAYS WHO I ASK..... WHO!!!?????????????????????Really the evangelical church has told us that that is what is natural for the missionary, it is like it is EXPECTED....MISSIONARY=POOR!!!

While the church builds bigger buildings and bigger programs, I sit and wait for a car, just something small, just so I can grocery shop...just something!!!(maybe i should take that comment out) 

 There I got that off my chest...

So I wait.....continue to wait on the Lord, for his timing and his provision. But God really.... it cannot come ANY SOONER!!! 

Not a whole LOT.....

Well, I have to say that I do not have a whole lot going on today. I spent a big part of my day yesterday, cleaning the house and doing tons of laundry. I did the majority of it yesterday so I could start my week CLEAN and organized. 

This morning it was great waking up to a clean house, unfortunately after home schooling my boys, I am now bored to death. I will most likely make my boys take a nap and then I will proceed to make a few phone calls to the "land of freedom" and call it a day. Before I know it, I will need to make dinner, and Andrew will be home! 

Tomorrow, Andrew takes Aiden back to the dentist. Hoping for good results!!!

So here is too....Not a whole Lot...going on in my world today...I don't know maybe it is a good thing!!!!

Progress...

Well, "the abscess that won't go away"(our lingo for the beast in his mouth) is finally getting smaller. 

He went to the dental specialist on Tuesday and the Dr. drilled two holes behind his two front teeth. Everyday we have to take a small needle and clean out the space after he eats!! It is so disgusting. He is so brave, leaning his head over the foot of our bed, so that we can get a clear shot at it...generally it is Andrew doing the cleaning, but when I am home with the boys, Hudson holds a flashlight for me so that I can see it clearly! 

It is an interesting method, but the good news is it seems to be working... At least it appears to be! Thanks for praying..

the abscess that won't go away...

My youngest son Aiden has had an abscess in his mouth. Several weeks ago he was hospitalized over the matter. He has had 2 weeks of antibiotics, and still no progress. The swelling in his face has gone down, but the large bump under his lip remains. 

Tomorrow he sees, the doctor, I am praying for another X ray, and  maybe some drastic action, on behalf of Aiden....however the dr. does want to pull his front teeth. This is not the drastic action I am looking for. Although I have decided if that is necassary that this is what we will do. Oh how I long for medical care in America, and I do not even live in the third world!

This picture was taken several days ago...poor little guy...makes you want to pray even harder...doesn't it!!! 

Today is a day to be thankful for what I have, to put on my gospel shoes and start walking.